Huff Post: What the world owes to Islam and its Prophet

The principles, values and freedoms of which we can be proud of today are found in a book compiled some 1,400 years old. This book was given to us through the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who, through his example and teachings, prepared the world for a spiritual, moral and social revolution, the like of which had never been witnessed before.

Through the light of his exemplary practices and words, he readied the world for advancements in all areas of human activity, including faith, science, medicine, culture, architecture, education, economy and civilisation. He came to bring man out of the pits of extreme darkness, ignorance and barbarianism, and to grant life, knowledge and understanding to the world.

It was through him that the world learned the way to live, the purpose of life and how to achieve it. Had it not been for his love, sympathy and compassion for the world, dare I say, we would still be grovelling in the depths of human error and conjecture, taking stones as idols, or the heavenly bodies that were created to serve us, as gods. With his advent and spiritual power, the idols of the ego were also smashed and the Unity of God was firmly established in the earth, never again to fade away.

Everything that we have in the world, the progress and advancements that we have made is due to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This is no baseless exaggeration. After him, Muslims took inspiration from the book that God had revealed to him to make great discoveries and advancements in all areas of human aspiration. Even in this age, the first Muslim Noble Laureate, Dr. Abdus Salam, on being asked what had inspired him for his revolutionary work in Theoretical Physics, replied, “it was the Qur’an.” Thus, Muslims obeyed The Holy Prophet’s commandments that ‘seeking knowledge is a duty for every Muslim man and Muslim woman’ and ‘seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China to get it’. Therefore, he has made it obligatory for every Muslim to seek knowledge as best they can.

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